This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Most nights, the air fryer turns on before I’ve even decided what we’re having. It just speeds everything up. Between two kids who have surprisingly strong opinions about food and a schedule that rarely leaves room for much planning, I’ve ended up with a running list of air fryer recipes that covers almost every part of dinner, not just the occasional batch of fries. These are the ones that have earned a permanent spot in my rotation, organized by what they’re actually for!

40 Air Fryer Recipes

There are the basic breakfast recipes I make on slower mornings, easy snacks and appetizers for when people are circling the kitchen, and the best air fryer chicken recipes for nights I need dinner fast. There are also heartier main course options, air fryer salmon is arguably the most popular recipe on this whole list, potato sides that go with nearly anything, and vegetables that actually get eaten instead of pushed around the plate. Out of everything I’ve tried, these are the top air fryer recipes worth keeping around.

Tips for Making Air Fryer Recipes

1. Don’t crowd the basket. Food needs room for air to actually move around it, or you end up with something steamed instead of crisp. I’d rather run two smaller batches than cram everything into one, especially with wings or fries.
2. Shake or flip things halfway through. The side closest to the heating element browns faster than people expect, so one pass through usually isn’t enough. I set a timer for the halfway mark now, since I used to forget and end up with food that’s crispy on top and pale everywhere else.
3. Use a little oil, even if the package says you don’t need to. A thin coat helps breading actually brown instead of just drying out. I learned this with frozen mozzarella sticks, the breading went chalky without it.
4. Pat wet food dry before it goes in. Marinated chicken, thawed shrimp, anything with surface moisture steams before it has a chance to crisp. A couple minutes with a paper towel makes a bigger difference than it seems like it should.
5. Treat the listed cook time as a starting point, not the answer. Air fryers vary a lot by brand and wattage, so the same recipe can run five minutes longer or shorter in a different model. I always check early the first time I make something new, then I know what to expect next time.
6. Clean the basket more often than feels necessary. Grease buildup underneath can start smoking or give food an off taste, especially with anything fatty. I wipe mine out after every other use now, it takes two minutes and saves the headache later.
7. Be careful with parchment. Loose pieces can get pulled into the heating element if they’re not weighed down by food. I either use the perforated air fryer sheets or skip parchment entirely for anything light, like fries.

FAQs

For more similar roundup of recipes, be sure to check out:

• Recipes with 5 Ingredients or Less
• Easy Pantry Meals
• Leftover Meals
• Easy No Bake Desserts
• High Protein Snacks
• 30-Minute Meals